Giant, Jumbo and Mega Phages

Dear Colleagues,

Since the Pseudomonas phage PhiKZ genome first rocked the international microbiology community due to its unprecedented length, hundreds of long genome phages belonging to the Caudoviricetes family have been sequenced. These data have obliterated any previous perceptions that such phages are rare in the environment or what the upper genome threshold for phages is. Initially, the terms “giant phage”, and later “jumbo phage”, were employed to highlight phages with genomes >200 kb. More recently, “mega phage” has come into usage to showcase the breaking of yet another phage genome length ceiling with their >500 kb genomes. These terms help emphasize not only the genome lengths of these phages, but also the large and complex virions needed to protect and then deliver such large amounts of DNA to their host cell.

Importantly, many long genome phages are being used, or studied, in relation to their application in control antibiotic resistant pathogens; it is well established that numerous human, animal, and plant bacterial pathogens are capable of supporting the replication of such large parasites. Research has revealed fascinating novel attributes and unprecedented infection mechanisms in giant/jumbo/mega phages. However, there is clearly much to be learned about giant, jumbo, and mega phages, as well as how to optimize their use for applications. Similarly, the roles of these phages in environmental niches are poorly defined, despite metagenomic studies showing them to be members of many microbial communities.

Therefore, we are excited to announce a second edition of this Special Issue in Viruses that focuses on these phages, entitled “Giant, Jumbo and Mega Phages”. The scope of this Special Issue is very broad. We encourage the submission of manuscripts that address gaps in the knowledge regarding long-genome phages, including—but not limited to—their genomes, structure/assembly, infection strategies, ecology, evolution, and applications. We hope you will consider contributing your research to this Special Issue.

Dr. Julie Thomas
Guest Editor

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